Amarinder
Singh for probe by retired SC JudgeSAS Nagar, February 17The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder
Singh said here today that his two ministers, named in a call girl
racket claimed to be busted by the Gujarat police yesterday, would not
cooperate with the police if a case was registered against them. Stating
that he had no faith in the CBI who could be asked to look into the
matter, the Chief Minister informed that his party would request for an
independent investigation by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court.

Badal
wants CM to quit on moral groundChandigarh, February 17The Shiromani Akali Dal today
demanded resignation of the Congress government in Punjab on moral
ground to prevent any further damage being done to the moral fibre of
the Punjabi society and its culture. “Punjab cannot be allowed to be
governed by sex-clients, pimps or middlemen”

BJP,
SAD activists burn govt effigyBathinda, February 17Even as the names of Congress
Ministers and an MLA allegedly involved in the Gujarat election sex
scandal were made public yesterday, the BJP and SAD held a demonstration
in the city demanding legal action against these politicians.

Child
swap: no end to agonyAmritsar, February 17Since
the past four months an old woman, a grandmother Sumitra Devi has been
waiting for her baby grandson who allegedly was ‘swapped’ with a
female child by a midwife Ramesh Rani in November last year.
Manohar Singh and his wife Parmjit Kaur, along with the girl child swapped by midwife Ramesh Rani, in Amritsar.
— Photo Rajiv

Vehicles move with the headlights on as it rains at Bathinda on
Monday evening.
— Tribune Photo Kulbir Beera.

‘Seva’
by Sikh women: clergy to take up issueAmritsar, February 17Sikh high priests are likely to
take up the issue of allowing baptised Sikh women to perform
‘seva’ in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple in the
forthcoming meeting. According to highly placed sources close to
Jathedar, Akal Takht.

Bir Devinder to get berth, says CMSAS Nagar, February 17The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, gave a clear indication of including, Mr Bir Devinder Singh into his Council of Ministers. “He is seniormost among those who have not been made a minister.

3
killed in road mishapJagraon, February 17Three persons were killed and
about 20 others, were injured ‘five of them seriously’ in a
head-on collision between a PRTC bus and a truck near Jagraon this
evening. The condition of at least two of the injured was critical.

HIGH COURTSignificant
ruling on rape caseChandigarh, February 17The Punjab and Haryana High
Court, in a significant judgement, has ruled that the presence of
semen on the victim or her clothes was not necessary to prove the
offence of rape.

Notice issued

Record

Caged
inmates: SC notice to PunjabNew Delhi, February 17The Supreme Court today issued
a notice to the Punjab Government seeking action against police
personnel for taking four accused in an iron cage from a court to
the jail on December 27 last year.

Prosecution
of MC chief allowedChandigarh, February 17Mr Sarvesh Kaushal, Secretary,
Local Government, Punjab, said that the state had granted sanction
for prosecution of Dr Kuldip Singh Gill, president, Municipal
Council, Moga, who had allegedly kept municipal funds of Rs 1,75,380
for three years in his personal custody.

Ensure
regular LPG supply: DCFatehgarh Sahib,
February 17Mr Vikas Partap, Deputy
Commissioner has directed the officials of the Food and Supplies
Department to check the stock of LPG in various agencies. Presiding
over the monthly progress review meeting of district officers, he
directed the officials concerned ensure regular supply of LPG in the
district.

Power
supply to SDM’s office cutMansa, February 17The local office of the Punjab
State Electricity Board of suburban subdivision yesterday
disconnected the electric connection to the tehsil office here for
non-payment of electricity bills for the last about two years.

YC
workers stage dharnaFerozepore, February 17Workers of the Youth Congress
led by the district president, Mr Raminder Awla, staged a dharna in
front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner in protest against
the “wrong” policies of the Central Government.

BKU
gheraos DC’s officeGurdaspur, February 17Works in courts here was hit
following gherao of the Deputy Commissioner’s office by Bharatiya
Kisan Union activists today. Staff of the Additional Deputy
Commissioner’s (Revenue) office, GA to the Deputy Commissioner and
Sadar Kanungo could not perform office duty.

Singla
meets SSI representativesBathinda, February 17Mr Surinder Singla, local MLA
and Chairman of the Punjab Finance Committee, who interacted with
representatives of SSI here yesterday, said the delay in
disbursement of sanctioned subsidy and higher power tariff had led
to closure of a number of SSIs.

Beopar
Mandal bandh todayPathankot, February 17The local unit of the Punjab
Beopar Mandal today held a meeting here at the Arya Samaj Temple
under the chairmanship of Mr Sham Lal, senior vice-president of the
unit, and decided to observe complete bandh tomorrow in protest
against the non-acceptance of their demands.